What makes a Great Wedding

 

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What makes a Great Wedding?

By Allen Shanahan

 

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When I plan weddings for couples, this question always comes to mind. Time after time, I've discovered that there isn't just one answer. A dream wedding of one couple might look like this: 200 guests, fireworks, a 5 piece band, and a three tier cake lavished with lily flowers.
An extravagant start to a fantastic marriage. But for another couple, a perfect wedding is an intimate outdoor lunch in a peaceful private garden to celebrate their everlasting love with their closest friends and families.
I've seen hundreds of weddings that have been anywhere in between these two extremes. And every single one of them has turned out great.
How? Although it's important for every couple to make the night unforgettable for their friends and family, they always remembered: "This is our day".

 

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A friend of mine has a big family, so he chose a big, city based reception venue, accessible for everyone. Another close friend has a very small family, so she had an intimate cocktail party at home.
A wedding is a representation of yourselves as a couple and the family you are about to become. This is an opportunity to put your love story on display to share with people that matter the most. Whether you choose colourful buntings or a festoon lighting, a perfect reception is one that reflects you; the perfect couple.
Having a clear style or theme is a good starting point to your wedding planning journey. But keep it simple! After all, the day is all about you. Pick one or two colours that compliment each other, creating the theme to your reception.
If you can't decide on a colour, choose your bouquet first and those colours can decide the overall style of your wedding.
Your table settings will contribute to the overall atmosphere of the wedding. How many guests on each table? And which guests should be on the same table? Having a well thought out room layout will always help to make the wedding more merrier.
Food and drinks can define a wedding. Does your menu choice fit you and your guests? Sit down meal or buffet? Open bar or on tab? Picking the venue could mean picking the menu.
Beach side venues offer more seafood options while rural and inland venues offer more poultry and red meat options. For sweets, a fun option is to have a lolly and dessert buffets with various cakes and treats you can enjoy with your tea or coffee.
The cake, speeches and your first dance. These wedding highlights are also an opportunity to add your own style to your reception and create a great wedding. The cake is an iconic symbol of your marriage that is on display for all guests to see and taste.
The cake can range anywhere from a small gourmet fruit cake to a tall cupcake tower where everyone gets a piece to take home. Speeches will sway the mood of the reception. Having a short, romantic speech will melt your guests' hearts and a long, funny speech full of embarrassing stories will get your guests energy up for some dancing.
And finally, your first dance. I've seen ballroom dancers showcase their moves and wow their guests while other couples perform a short bridal waltz, gazing into each other's eyes. At the end of the day, these things define your first day as a married couple, so search through the options and choose together.

 

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So you've created your perfect day and you want it to last forever? Having a photo booth and a videographer along with your photographer will make that dream come true.
Photographers will capture the carefully crafted aesthetics of the whole wedding and design an album for you. Videographers will perfectly bottle the magic and atmosphere of the ceremony, speeches and dancing.
Photo booths and instagram printers are an interactive and fun choice to keep your guests busy and entertained, framing their own memories of the party.
From the venue, to the decorations; the cake to the dress; the wedding planning process can be overwhelming. However, the most important thing to remember is to do it for you. Your guests whom love you have gathered to celebrate you as a couple and wish you happiness.
The wedding day should reflect on you and your personality as a couple. This is the day; the day you've been dreaming of, and you will no doubt cherish it forever. Surround yourself with the colours, food and people you love and standing together to say 'I do'.
That's what makes a great wedding.